Rudder bar for aircraft



RUDDER BAR FOR AIRCRAFT Filed May 8, 1924 gnmnhz till Patented Dec. 1, teas.

RUBBER BAR FOR AIRCRAFT.

Application filed may 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES L. PAULUS and ROBERT KAUCH, citizens'of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain. new and useful Improve ments in Rudder Bars for Aircraft, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rudder bars for aircraft, and is concerned particularly with improvements in means for locking the bar for the purpose of maintaining a fixed course of flight as when flying cross-country by holding the rudder set against a pressure due to cross winds or the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simplified hydraulic locking means which permits the locking of a rudder bar or the like in finely adjusted positions.

The invention as described in the following specifications is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rudder bar provided with locking means in accordance with our invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a central cross section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 through the rudder bar and locking means, showing the latter in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a view of the right hand end of the rudder bar.

The rudder bar 10 has the usual connections with the vertical rudder of the airplane and is pivoted at the middle on a post 11 with a housing 12. The post 11 is secured to the floor of the cockpit by the flanged bracket 13. The housing 12 receives a spur gear 14: made rigid with the post 11 by a key 15. The housing 12, being pinned to the bar 10, as at 16, swings therewith on the post 11 about the stationary gear 14:. The gear 1d meshes on opposite sides with racks 17 reciprocating in guides 18 in the side walls or the housing 12. The racks 1? con stitute the rods of pistons 19 or other element such as a moving vane operating in cylinders 20 in the housing 12. The cylinders 20 are interconnected by a passage 21 which is controlled by a butterfly valve 22 pivoted on a pin 23 bearing in a socket 24- in one wall of the housing 12 and actuated by a rod 25 extending out of the housing through a hollow boss 26 in the opposite wall of the housing 12. The boss 26 18 en- 1924. Serial No. 711,882.

ternally threaded to receive a packing nut 27 to compress packing about the rod 25 and prevent the leakage of fluid thereby. It will be seen that a swinging movement of the rudder bar transmits reciprocating movement to the pistons 19 so that one is advanced and the other retracted in the cylinders 20.

I The cylinders 20 and the passage 21 are filled with a fluid, such as oil, and the reciprocation of the pistons or other element such as a moving vane causesthe movement of a solid column of fluid from one cylinder into the other through the passage 21 when the valve 22 is open. It is contemplated to open the valve 22 when an adjustment of the rudder bar is to be made, and to close the valve and thus prevent any further flow of fluid between the cylinders to lock the rudder bar in its adjusted'position.

The valve 22 is controlled by a lever 28 fixed on the outer end of the rod 25, and extending toward the rudder bar 10.. The free end of the lever 28 is forked as indicated at 29, to receive the edge of an arcuate plate cam 30 fixed on a shaft 31 extending lengthwise of the rudder bar. The shaft 31 is received in bearings 32 at opposite ends of the rudder bar and has aflixed thereon a pedal at each end. The pedals 33 are normally horizontal, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, with the valve 22 closed so that the rudder is locked. in turning either to the right or left, the pilot places his feet on the pedals and in so doing, turns them to the full line position shown in Fig. 4:, when the val e 22 is open and pressure applied to the proper end of the rudder bar will swing the bar and; change the rudder position. Tf the pilot wishes to maintain the new line of flight with the rudder deflected, as may be necessary for example, in the case of a cross wind, the valve 22 must be returned to closed position. This is effected by rotating the shaft 31 through the medium of either of the pedals 33 back to the normal position. It is apparent that the present construction enables the operation of the rudder The deflection of the which is freand means on said rudder bar automatiquently made to offset the torque elieet oi eally operated when the'feet are placed on the propeller may to mode by looking the soil. be to open sold valve to allow move I p I I i l p l'llllllel' 111 ill! proper elole 0i eolpelmenl. menl oi and lap and le oloee and valve to Troublesome cross winds which otherwise prevent further movement of said bar when cause a strain on the pilot, as he has to hold the feet are removed: the rudder bar against a constant pressure 7 In combination, a foot-operated bar, therein, are readily taken care of by locka closed fluid system comprising a pair of ing the rudder bar. It will be appreciated interconnected chambers, a valve controlthat very close adjustment is possible and ling the passage of fluid from one chamber the locking can be taken care of in any posito the other, a vane connected with said bar tion of the rudder; and moving therewith to force fluid from We claim: one chamber into the other when the bar 1. In combination, a control, a fluid sysis moved in one direction and back again tem, a member in said system movable in when the movement of the bar is reversed, the movement ofsaidcontrol, and means for and means operable by either foot at either controlling the flow of the fluid in said end of the bar for opening and closing said system to lock said member and, with it, valve. said control in adjusted positiom 8. In combination, a rudder" bar, a closed 2( In combination, a control, a fluid sysfluid system comprising a pair of intercontem, a moving vane in said system connected chambers, a valve controlling the nected with said control to move therepassage of fluid from one chamber to the with, a valve for said system, and means other, a vane connected with said rudder bar to operate said valve to block said fluid and moving therewith to force fluid from system. Y one chamber into the other when the bar 3. In combination, a rudder bar, a fluid is moved in one direction and back again system, a moving vane in said system conwhen the movement of the bar is reversed, nected with said bar to move therewith, and means operable by either foot at either a valve to control the flow of fluid in j's'aid end of the rudder bar for opening and clossystem, and means-on said bar to operate ing said valve, comprising interconnected said valve. pedals at the ends of said bar, and a shaft 4. In combination, a control, a Iclosed connected with said valve movable by either fluid system comprising a pair of terconof said pedals. nected chambers, a valve controlllng the 9. In combination, a support, a rudder passage of fluid from onechamber to the bar pivoted thereon, a housing movable 10. other, and a moving. vane connected with with said bar, a pair of interconnected fluid said control and moving therewith to force cylin ers, in said housing, a valve confluid from one chamber into the other when troll' g communication between said cylthe control is moved in one direction and inders, pistons operating in said cylinders, back again when the movement of the conand connections between said pistons and 105 trol is reversed. 0 said support to advance one piston in one 5. In combinatitin, a rudder bar, a closed fluid system comprising, a pair of interconnected chambers, a valve controlling the passage of fluid from one chamberto the cylinder and retract the other piston in the other cylinder to force fluid from one cylinder to the other.

10. In combination, a support, a rudder other, a moving vane connected with said bar pivoted thereon, a housing movable rudder bar-and moving therewith to force with said bar, a pair of interconnected fluid fluid from one-chamber into the other when cylinders, in said housing, a valve conthe bar is moved in one direction and back again when the movement ofthe bar is re versed, and foot operated means to open said valve when movement of said bar is to commenceand to close said valve after the adjustment of said bar.

6. In combination, a rudder bar, means for locking said bar in an adjusted position consisting of a closed fluid system comprising a pair of interconnected chambers, a valve controlling the passage of fluid from one chamber to the other, a vane connected with said rudder bar and moving therewith to force fluid from' one chamber into the other when the bar is moved in one direction and back again when the movement of the bar is reversed,

trolling communication between said cylinders, pistons operating in said cylinders, connections between said pistonsand said support to advance one piston in one cylinder and retract the other piston in the other cylinder to force fluid from one cylinder to the other, and a member controlled from said rudder bar for operating said valve.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10, the size of the opening of the communication between the cylinders being proportional in size to the pistons.

12. In combination, a support, a cylinder block 'rotat-ably attached to said support comprising a pair of interconnected cylinders, a rudderbar rotatably carried by the support and rigidly attached to the cylin- 130 der block to turn the same in its movements, apair of pistons in said cylinders, means movable in the movements of said cylinder block with said bar, and a valve controlling the flow offluid between said cylinders.

13. In an apparatus for maintaining a 'rudder bar for aircrafts in any desired position, comprising in combination a .fixed shaft mounted on theaireraft and rotatably supporting the rudder bar, a fixed sprocket member rigidly attached to the shaft, a-casing rotatably attached, to the shaft and rigidly attached to the rudder bar and containing a plurality of slidable members in-1 geared relation to the sprocket member, a

plurality of connected oil cylinders and pistons operating therein, carried by the.

In testimony whereof We aflix-our signa- 2 tures. t

- CHARLES L. PAULUS.

ROBERT KAUCH. 

